[ BRIEFS ] swatches Columbia introduces 'heat magnet' textile to the outdoors market C olumbia Sportswear has launched its new Omni-Heat™ Black Dot technology, described as " the outdoor industry's first external thermal shield built to protect from the cold " in a company press release. The new textile features thousands of multilayered black dots that act as a " heat magnet, " capturing solar heat and trapping warmth. Combined with the brand's Omni-Heat 3D thermal-reflective lining, the new collection of men's and women's jackets is Columbia's most advanced solution for cold temperatures. Each multilayered dot is made of aluminum and covered with a black coating to enhance heat absorption from scattered or direct sunlight. Extensive laboratory and field testing showed that the jacket heats up quickly and holds that heat longer than jackets without the technology. " To maximize a shell fabric's heat retention, we looked closely at lowemissivity windows that rely on a thin layer of metal on the glass, " said Haskell Beckham, PhD, Columbia's senior director of apparel innovation. " We'd never seen insulation placed on the outer layer of a jacket before, and we've been extremely impressed with the heat absorption and retention performance throughout our testing in the laboratory and in frigid climates around the world. " For more, visit www.columbia.com. Columbia Sportswear's new Omni-Heat Black Dot technology features thousands of multilayered black dots that capture solar heat and trap warmth. Photos: Columbia Sportswear. 12 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / January 2021 0121RV_cv2-17_Front.indd 12 12/17/20 10:05 PMhttp://www.columbia.com